Light and colour tell the story of Shetland’s changing season. The intense clarity of summer light is slowly replaced with gold as the sun lingers closer to the horizon, gilding the landscape, and deepening and intensifying shadows.
As gales whip up wild seas, spindrift travels with the wind and the saturated sky becomes infused with colours of sunset, giving the feeling of being suspended in and ever-shifting world of weather.
Local folktales describe the equinoxal storms as resulting from great battles deep underwater.
It’s said that Sea Midder has dominion over the ocean in the summer months. She banishes Teran, the bringer of storms, to the bottom of the ocean, where he can wreak less havoc on the lives of islanders.
Sea Midder is a gentle ruler, responsible for the fair weather that allows bountiful harvests from the sea and protects fishermen. By the end of summer, she grows tired and Teran fights to regain control, resulting in violent storms. You can listen to Shetland comedian and storyteller Marjolein Robertson's rendition of the of Sea Midder and Terran, and other stories, by clicking here.
Turquoise waves shine as if lit from within as they batter our coastline. On overcast days, where mist shrouds the hills and the world appears grey, the sea becomes the place to find colour.
With few trees, some of the signs associated with autumn aren’t as obvious here, but a closer look at our landscape reveals a rich tapestry of changing colour. As the last wildflowers fade, the hills take on shades of gold and brown, interwoven with deep green mosses. Countless species of fungi can be found here, ranging from vibrant reds and yellows to delicate pearlescent white.
Although trees may not be present in many parts of our landscape, there are places to experience magical, autumnal walks in the woods.
Kergord is one of my favourite places to take the bairns. This woodland dates to the early 20th century, with additional periods of plating in the 1950s and 1980s. Species include: sycamore, horse chestnut, birch and holly, whose leaves and berries tell the ever-changing story of the seasons.
Even our winter darkness has colour as moonlight casts rainbows onto clouds and the aurora dances across our skies.
We call the aurora the ‘mirrie dancers’, where ‘mirr’ means blur. And they really do appear like dancing figures, the blur of movement obscuring their edges as they merge with the night sky. Most often they shimmer silvery green, but sometimes the higher rays glow red and on a very active night shades of purple can be seen.
Part of the aurora’s beauty is its elusive nature. Although solar events that cause the lights can be tracked, their impact on our skies is unpredictable and often dependent on local weather.
There is no greater joy than stepping outside on a cold, clear night and unexpectedly finding a star-filled sky splashed with dancing colours.
Part of the aurora’s beauty is its elusive nature. Although solar events that cause the lights can be tracked, their impact on our skies is unpredictable and often dependent on local weather.
There is no greater joy than stepping outside on a cold, clear night and unexpectedly finding a star-filled sky splashed with dancing colours.
Whichever season is your favourite, it's always a good time to visit Shetland. Discover more at our Seasons page.
